Illegal immigrants: 7 NADRA employees sacked for issuing more than 800 CNICs to Afghans

Earlier around 50 employees were suspended after Rehman Malik took notice of the issue.

SUKKUR: Seven employees of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) were sacked for issuing identity cards to Afghan nationals, sources said.

Sources claimed that a data-entry operator from Kandhkot taluka, Allah Bux Golo, was caught red-handed in Quetta while handing over identity cards to Afghan nationals. He named dozens of other employees also involved in the scam. Reportedly, more than 800 computerised national identity cards were issued so far.

The sacked employees include the operations manager, Shafiq Arain, and duty manager, Manzoor Osto, because charges against them were proved.

Earlier, more than 50 NADRA employees were suspended after the interior minister took notice of the issue.

A team from NADRA and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are investigating. The team consists of four NADRA officers, Hassan Mehdi, deputy manager of human resources in Sukkur, Mustafa Panhwar, technical manager in Sukkur, Asia Pathan, deputy manager of verification in Shikarpur, Owais Memon, systems engineer in Sukkur and two FIA officials.

The suspended officers belonged to Kandhkot, Kashmore, Thul, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Dadu, Qazi Ahmed, Sukkur, Sanghar, Daharki, Qamber-Shahdadkot and other areas.

However, the deputy general manager in Sukkur, Col. Khalid Alizai, categorically denied sacking the employees. He confirmed the arrest of a data-entry operator in Quetta. According to him, most complaints were received from cities which are close to the border with Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2011.